Experimental Free-Threaded CPython
CPython now supports running with the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) disabled, allowing for free-threaded execution when configured with –disable-gil. Free-threaded execution enables better utilization of available CPU cores by running threads in parallel, benefiting programs designed for threading.
C-API extension modules need to be specifically built for the free-threaded build, and extensions should indicate support for running with the GIL disabled using appropriate mechanisms.
Understanding the GIL
- The Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) is a mechanism in CPython that ensures only one thread can execute Python bytecode at a time.
- This guarantees data integrity in Python’s single-threaded nature but limits the ability to leverage multiple CPU cores effectively for certain tasks
Potential Benefits of Free-Threaded CPython
For CPU-bound tasks that can be effectively divided among multiple threads, Free-Threaded CPython has the potential to significantly improve performance by utilizing multiple CPU cores. This could be particularly beneficial for scientific computing, data analysis, and other computationally intensive workloads.
Python 3.13 New FeaturesMajor new features of the 3.13 series, compared to 3.12
Nearly annually, Python releases a new version. The most recent version, Python 3.13, will be available on May 8, 2024, following Python 3.12 in that order. This version introduced many new features and improvements. This is a pre-release of the next Python version, which introduced some new features as well as improvements to the existing ones. In this article, we will see what has been changed in Python version 3.13.
Table of Content
- A Better Interactive Interpreter
- Experimental Just-in-Time (JIT) Compilation
- Experimental Free-Threaded CPython
- Improved Error Reporting and Guidance
- Interactive Shell Makeover (New REPL)
- Incremental Garbage Collection
- Improved Error Reporting and Guidance
- Memory Optimization for Docstrings
- Enhance Performance in Modules
- Removal of Deprecated Modules (“Dead Batteries”)
- Conclusion